Grantmaking

Education and Literacy Fund Grant Cycle Suspended in 2009
The Education and Literacy Fund will not be accepting grant proposals in 2009.  Endowment funds across the United States and beyond have been affected by the turbulence in the economy, and the Education and Literacy Fund has not been excepted.  Because the Fund was established to provide substantial funding opportunities throughout our nine-county region, the Alliance board of directors has determined that a temporary suspension would benefit the Fund's long-term granting capabilities.

Overview
Grant proposals are accepted once each year according to our Education and Literacy Fund grant cycle. Proposal requirements may change from year to year; therefore, grantseekers are advised to revisit this page prior to beginning the grant application process. After reading all of the information on this page, please visit our Apply for a Grant page for instructions on submitting a proposal.

Grant Cycle

We consider proposals for grants on a yearly cycle which begins each June. At the start of each cycle, a notice is mailed to nonprofit organizations that have applied for or received grants in the past or have otherwise requested notification of the start of each cycle. The requirements and instructions provided here are to be considered current and accurate only for the duration of the Education and Literacy Fund's grant cycle, which runs from June through October each year. Proposals will be accepted from the June announcement date through the submission deadline.  Proposals submitted before announcement of the grant opportunity or after the submission deadline will not be considered.

Funding Priorities 

Proposals will be accepted from nonprofit organizations for projects or programs serving children ages 0-5 that meet one or more of the following criteria.  The Education and Literacy Fund will consider projects that: 

• Expose children to a variety of age-appropriate books and other resources that aim to increase a child's alphabet knowledge and phonological awareness.
• Begin or expand the children's home libraries/book collections.
• Involve parents in developing their children's early childhood literacy, in or outside of the home.
• Support family literacy, incorporating education opportunities for parents with early childhood education/literacy activities or programs for their children.
• Lay a foundation for life-long reading and the desire to learn.
• Cultivate a love of reading.

Funding consideration will be given to a broad spectrum of program types throughout the nine counties served by the Alliance, regardless of the socioeconomic status of potential beneficiaries; however, proposals should specifically address how the applicant organization will reach disadvantaged and at-risk children within the stated age group. Funding consideration will be given to nonprofit partnerships and collaborations, especially when the population to be served is far-reaching or includes individuals from multiple Alliance counties. 

Funding Parameters

The Education and Literacy Fund will consider funding requests of any amount.  However, it is expected that multiple grants will be awarded from the total amount available.

Eligibility

The Education and Literacy Fund welcomes proposals from nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and from governmental agencies serving one or more of the nine Indiana counties served by the Alliance: Daviess, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick. Proposals from nonprofit organizations that have not obtained 501(c)(3) and 509(a) designations from the Internal Revenue Service may be accepted provided that a fiscal sponsor is secured in order to oversee the project and accept grant monies if awarded.

Fiscal Sponsors
Proposals submitted by an entity under the auspices of another agency must include a written statement signed by the agency’s board president on behalf of the board of directors agreeing to act as the entity’s fiscal sponsor, to receive grant monies if awarded, and to oversee the proposed project.

Deliberation
The Education and Literacy Fund grants committee will make its recommendations on funding to the Alliance's Board of Directors. No lobbying or soliciting of Alliance representatives will be permitted.

Award Announcement
All organizations that have submitted grant proposals will be notified of the outcome of the grants committee's deliberation in writing no later than November 1.

Reporting Procedures
A six-month progress report and a final report at project completion are required by organizations whose proposals are approved for funding. Instructions and appropriate forms will be provided at the time the grant is awarded.